“This is the sport you’ve got to do it in,” USD Athletic Director Ky Snyder said on Saturday, shortly before the Toreros tipped off in what would be a season-ending victory over visiting Pepperdine.

The 76-69 win also ended USD’s losing streak at five games.

It is, however, difficult to believe the result did anything to put off the end of Bill Grier’s time as USD’s head coach.

This is never pleasant.

But, fact is, there is little evidence to argue against it being time for Grier to go.

Oh, there is substance to such an argument. But there is no substantiation.

If Snyder is to retain Grier for a seventh season, it will be on faith more than anything.

Barring a bunch of things going extremely wacky, USD will this week in the West Coast Conference Tournament wrap up its fourth straight losing season and fifth consecutive non-winning season since going to the NCAA Tournament in 2008.

At this point, everyone who cares — not a big group based on the empty seats almost always outnumbering rear ends at Jenny Craig Pavilion (capacity 5,100) this season — knows a decision is pending.

“We have to wait for the season to be over,” Snyder protested.

At least he acknowledges a verdict is pending. But he has to have already assessed this situation. Snyder is a smart guy. He knew the instant he saw me Saturday what my purpose was for wanting to talk to him.

Neither he nor Grier questioned the questions. Grier did shrug and decline to publicly lobby for his retention.

He’s a good man.

Snyder speaks highly of Grier’s navigation of his program’s challenges, his selflessness, his character and how an influx of shooters will help solve the Toreros’ offensive woes.

Sure, there are extenuating circumstances, things to consider that comprise a fuller picture than just wins and losses provide. There always are. And I think highly enough of Grier and Snyder that I’ll be compelled to respect the decision if Snyder determines his coach deserves a reprieve.

The Toreros lost five of the seven games they played without starting center Chris Manresa at the beginning of the season. Their top guard off the bench, Mike Davis, missed nine straight games before returning briefly Saturday.

That makes it tough, because if but for a few more wins this season, Grier would deserve a 2013-14 campaign.

The team’s two starting guards — sophomores Johnny Dee and Christopher Anderson — max their ability every minute on the court. Even if he gets axed, Grier must get credit for landing freshman big man Jito Kok, who is here from the Netherlands and is a talent you need to see next year. There is also much anticipation about guard Duda Sanadze, who redshirted this season. And Brett Bailey, an All-State player from Washington, has signed with USD.

Most notably, Grier had to fight through the strain and struggle of a point-fixing scandal involving a former player and former coach. He had to reconstitute a young team after that. That rebuilding including the decision before last season to jettison two of his best players, sacrificing talent for character.

His handling of such things has won him an admirer in his boss.

“One of the biggest reasons I like working with Bill,” Snyder said, “is that I trust he’s going to do things the right way.”

Can’t argue with that. Basketball is no exception to what we expect from a USD athletic program that exemplifies faith and fine people.

But USD is too good to just be good.

The athletic department has won an unprecedented five straight WCC Commissioner’s Cups, awarded annually to the school with the most overall success.

That’s all well and good.

But USD can no longer afford its marquee program, which offers its best/only chance for real revenue and recognition, to be middling.

“It needs to be our premiere sport,” Snyder said.

Basketball is the WCC’s football, which means both that you have to be good in basketball and that it’s the most difficult sport in which to be good.

But this is hardly even making mildly significant gains.

The Toreros finished 13-18 last season. They enter the WCC Tournament at 14-17.

Four games in eight days. Went 2-2, beating BYU five days after losing by two points to Gonzaga, which has since risen to No. 2 in the nation. It was the last gasp of a little team that can’t. Since beating BYU, they had lost five straight.

There comes a point where results are all that resonate.

Since going 22-14 and becoming our city’s first Division I team to win an NCAA Tournament game in 2008, the Toreros have not finished above .500 and have an overall record of 60-96.

Asked if USD can get better with Grier as head coach, Snyder said, “That’s what we have to figure out.”

Unless you’re betting on a Cinderella run in Las Vegas next week — and I mean a beat BYU or St. Mary’s kind of run — there is no more figuring out to be done.